Paper feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A paper feeding apparatus transports paper one by one through a transportation mechanism to an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus includes a paper feed cassette to contain paper, a paper side guide arranged in the paper feed cassette to position the paper in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a transport direction of the paper, and a dust removing roller arranged in the paper side guide and in contact with the paper contained in the paper feed cassette.

1. A paper feeding apparatus for transporting paper one by one through a transportation mechanism to an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus, the paper feeding apparatus comprising:
 a paper feed cassette configured to contain paper; 
 a paper side guide arranged in the paper feed cassette to position the paper in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a transport direction of the paper; and 
 a dust removing roller arranged in the paper side guide, the dust removing roller being in contact with the paper contained in the paper feed cassette. 
 
     
     
       2. A paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the dust removing roller is a conductive roller set at a prescribed electrical potential. 
     
     
       3. A paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the conductive roller is set at a frame ground potential. 
     
     
       4. A paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a blade member arranged in the paper side guide with one edge of the blade member being in contact with a roller surface of the dust removing roller; and 
 a dust containing unit configured to contain dust removed from the roller surface by the blade member. 
 
     
     
       5. A paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pressure spring configured to urge the dust removing roller toward the paper. 
 
     
     
       6. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image forming unit; 
 a transportation mechanism configured to transport paper one by one to the image forming unit; 
 a paper feed cassette configured to contain the paper; 
 a paper side guide arranged in the paper feed cassette to position the paper in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a transport direction of the paper; and 
 a dust removing roller arranged in the paper side guide and in contact with the paper contained in the paper feed cassette. 
 
     
     
       7. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the dust removing roller is a conductive roller set at a prescribed electrical potential. 
     
     
       8. An image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , where in the conductive roller is set at a frame ground potential. 
     
     
       9. A paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a blade member arranged in the paper side guide with one edge of the blade member being in contact with a roller surface of the dust removing roller; and 
 a dust containing unit configured to contain dust removed from the roller surface by the blade member. 
 
     
     
       10. A paper feeding apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a pressure spring configured to urge the dust removing roller toward the paper.